MotoGP | Japanese GP FP1: Ducati double with Miller and Bagnaia

MotoGP Gp Motegi Free Practice 1 – Excellent start for Ducati at Motegi, the track that hosts the Japanese Grand Prix, 16th stage of the 2022 MotoGP.

The best time was achieved by Jack Miller, who took the official Desmosedici to the top of the timesheets with a time of 1:44.509 (it could have been an even better lap without the traffic, ed.), followed by team-mate Pecco Bagnaia , trailing by just 28 thousandths, for a Ducati double.

Third time for Fabio Quartararo's Yamaha, leading for a long time in a session that was longer than usual, given that today only FP1 took place as scheduled.

The leader of the world championship standings is very close to Ducati, just 21 thousandths from Bagnaia and 49 thousandths from Miller. Aleix Espargarò was also close, with the Aprilia setting the fourth fastest time with a time of 1:44.577, just 68 thousandths from the top.

Luca Marini had an excellent session, fifth on the Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati and ahead of Marc Marquez (Honda) who physically seemed to be in more difficulty with his right arm. We remind you that the Spaniard from Honda only returned last week, more than 100 days after the fourth operation on his arm.

Closing out the Top Ten are Marc Marquez's team-mate, his compatriot Pol Espargarò, the KTMs of Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira and the Aprilia of Maverick Vinales.

Aragon winner Enea Bastianini (Ducati Gresini) is only 14th after a crash with no consequences and with the weather forecast calling for rain and which could therefore complicate the rest of the weekend for the rider from Rimini.

Franco Morbidelli improved his performances but not his positions compared to previous races, finishing 16th with the Yamaha, but just over half a second from the top.

Rookie FP1 MotoGP GP Japan

The best rookie was Darryn Binder (Yamaha WithU RNF) 18th, followed by Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati Mooney VR46 Racing Team) 19th, Raul Fernandez (KTM Team Tech 3) 21st, Remy Gardner (KTM Team Tech 3 and from next year in Yamaha Superbike) 23rd and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati Gresini) 24th.